Just when I thought the embedded chip issues were baloney.

I've owned an 88 Chrysler Lebaron coupe. (2.5 liter, fuel injected) since it was new. It's been a very reliable car that now has 188K miles on it. I've always taken good care of it, and I've never had to change an alternator, a starter, or do any major work.

I tried starting it Saturday, cranked and cranked with not even a sputter, (usually turns over right away). Then I tried it six hours later, same thing.. I tried it this morning, still nothing.

Then I flipped the ignition on three times (this is how Chrysler's display the computer fault codes).

After three successive tests I got the same results: Code: 12 : Memory standby power lost. (no, I didn't disconnect the battery..) Code: 15 : Vehicle speed/distance sensor circuit. Code: 55 : End of message.

My wife (a smart lady) suggested I try disconnecting the battery to reset the computer. I disconnected the battery, waited five minutes and then reconnected it. The car started immediately.

I'm happy that this didn't take time or money, but I'm kind of shocked. Like I said, I've owned this car for 11 years, and I've never had to do anything like this. Coincidence? I don't think so.

BTW, both my Fords started just fine.

Bryce

-- bryce (bryce@seanet.com), January 02, 2000

Answers

Come to think of it, my '84 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser would not start on New Year's Eve, though it was running fine up till then. I have a fully charged battery, plenty of gas, etc. but when I turn the ignition switch nothing happens. I assumed it was just a bad switch but maybe it's a bad chip of some kind. Hmmm....

-- Johnny (Bigjohn@dimples.net), January 02, 2000.

Hello Johnny,

All I had to do was disonnect the negative terminal, let it sit, then re-connect it.

I just got the fault codes, after the car started..

They now are: Code 12 : Memory standby power loss. Code 55 : End of message.

The middle code (code 15 is no longer displaying.)

-- bryce (bryce@seanet.com), January 02, 2000.

This is a joke, right?

When is the last time you set the date and time on your car? Do you think Chrysler has embedded real-time-clocks in an 88 Lebaron? Which systems of your Chrysler do you think require a full date and time?

What do you think disconnecting the battery did? Reset the car back to 1988? You never disconnected or replaced the battery before in 12 years?

So do you think all the real-time-circuits come from the chip factory preset to GMT, or do you think Chrysler sets the embedded date and time in each 88 LeBaron before they rolled out the door?

-- mike c (mike@eagleriver.com), January 02, 2000.

No joke.

I have changed the battery, no effect. I don't know if chips inside the boxes are set to GMT, or what.

I would just call it a coincidence except that it failed to start the day after the GMT and Y2K rollovers.

There could be an internal clock that does not power down when you change batteries.. I don't know.

-- bryce (bryce@seanet.com), January 02, 2000.

bryce--YOU DID THE RIGHT THING. YES YOU DID RESET THE COMPUTER WHEN YOU DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND YES IT DID GO BACK TO 1988. AND YES CHRYSLER DID SET THE COMPUTER--THEY CALL IT FLASHING IT. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED LAST IF THEY RECONNECTED IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OR SOME AUXLILARY POWER SUPPLY WAS EITHER PRESENT OR THEY ATTACHED ONE SO YOU WOULD'T LOSE THE MEMORY AND GO BACK TO THE DEFAULT.

-- steve stolowski (sstolowski@TNNS.NET), January 02, 2000.

Unlike GM, Chryslers do NOT clear memory when you disconnect the battery. It takes a scanner to do it, or 50 key starts during which the problem does not re-occur.

I know wherefor I speak, have a lifetime invested in this stuff.

You can expect to be replacing some parts on that Lebaron soon. I suggest you start with the ignition pickup in the distributor.

-- Art (artwelling@mindspring.com), January 02, 2000.